Friday, June 13, 2008
Next stop - human rights for all...
I'm still in my crazy weeks, with very few days not on the road. I don't know why I did this to myself, but in a week or so it settles down and has been very interesting so far.
I'm in Toronto now, for the Amnesty International AGM. It's a gathering of the tribe, maybe 300 activists from across Canada. There will be business things to do, like elections and resolutions and debates on policy - important and some people love that stuff. There will also be direct actions to take, great workshops and inspiring guests and moments.
One of those guests is Rebiya Kadeer, and amazing women who is having an impact worldwide as she works to free Huseyin Celil, a Canadian citizen imprisoned in China. Here's a story in the Globe today about her.
I'm in Toronto now, for the Amnesty International AGM. It's a gathering of the tribe, maybe 300 activists from across Canada. There will be business things to do, like elections and resolutions and debates on policy - important and some people love that stuff. There will also be direct actions to take, great workshops and inspiring guests and moments.
One of those guests is Rebiya Kadeer, and amazing women who is having an impact worldwide as she works to free Huseyin Celil, a Canadian citizen imprisoned in China. Here's a story in the Globe today about her.
Ms. Kadeer is considered the most important leader of the Uyghur people - the Muslim minority group to which Mr. Celil belongs. She met with Canadian officials this week, and is in Toronto today kicking off Amnesty International's annual general meeting.
I feel like this blogging community is a fine little tribe of sorts as well. More later and I'll drop by your sites when I can.
Question: when you feel outrage about something being done to someone or something, how do you channel it or deal with it?
Question: when you feel outrage about something being done to someone or something, how do you channel it or deal with it?
Comments:
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Gary - what exactly do you do again?
Answer to your question: I pray, and if there is ever something I personally can do to help, I usually try.
Examples you'll enjoy .... as a kid, I jumped in to help a boy getting kicked on the bus and got kicked too and later ridiculed. Later, in high school, there was this boxer/bully guy who got paid by his friends to beat up some other kids. I jumped on his back outraged after he threw the first punch. He flung me off like a swatted fly. It hurt. My friend still got a bloody nose. =(
PS - Hurry back. I'm missing your comments on my blog!
Answer to your question: I pray, and if there is ever something I personally can do to help, I usually try.
Examples you'll enjoy .... as a kid, I jumped in to help a boy getting kicked on the bus and got kicked too and later ridiculed. Later, in high school, there was this boxer/bully guy who got paid by his friends to beat up some other kids. I jumped on his back outraged after he threw the first punch. He flung me off like a swatted fly. It hurt. My friend still got a bloody nose. =(
PS - Hurry back. I'm missing your comments on my blog!
Sounds like it will be an interesting and stimulating gathering. you are so cool.
I do all that I can do. Sometimes that is not enough :(
I do all that I can do. Sometimes that is not enough :(
I too hope the Chinese let Mr. Celil go although I wonder what it is about his case in particular that has induced the protest on his behalf. A country that actually has the largest percentage of prisoners in the entire world might also do well to reverse its own policies. Prisons, like war, have become privatized and thus profitable for certain elements in this country. In many states felons lose the right to vote so I can't help but think there's also a political motivation behind gaining convictions of young African American men, one in ten of whom are felons.
I agree that the blogging community is a virtual tribal alliance where we are free to discuss things with one another when we don't feel especially comfortable doing so among our workmates. Since I work as support staff in a very conservative specialty medical practice most of what I overhear is people trying to placate the opinions of fairly wealthy doctors and administrators. It reminds me of a favorite old Kinks song "She Wears A Hat Like Princess Marina (So She Don't Care)". It's depressing.
So far as your question is concerned I have to agree with your friends who have commented before me.. and to emulate the Dalai Lama in a very small way. I try to use skillful means.
I agree that the blogging community is a virtual tribal alliance where we are free to discuss things with one another when we don't feel especially comfortable doing so among our workmates. Since I work as support staff in a very conservative specialty medical practice most of what I overhear is people trying to placate the opinions of fairly wealthy doctors and administrators. It reminds me of a favorite old Kinks song "She Wears A Hat Like Princess Marina (So She Don't Care)". It's depressing.
So far as your question is concerned I have to agree with your friends who have commented before me.. and to emulate the Dalai Lama in a very small way. I try to use skillful means.
The previous commentators have beautifully expressed what I think is a good response: to calmly contemplate how best one can respond before proceeding as is appropriate to our own particular position and life experience.
It’s natural enough to feel angry, to feel a sense of outrage, but to remain in that state I think will may well limit your opportunities and good intentions. Ultimately I think it’s a matter of a shift in consciousness; to create awareness which wins over the hearts and minds through thoughtful communication and factual persuasion. You can’t do that as well if you remain angry, especially if it’s evident in your communication.
All of the business things to do, like elections and resolutions and debates on policy - are of equal importance with those aspects which involve more direct action, the latter will be heavily influenced by the former and vica versa. I know you would be already aware of that from your board meetings. Some as you say like that stuff, but I think that my well be their best way they can add their own contribution to the organization. It is of equal importance to the words of your inspiring guests.
Best wishes
It’s natural enough to feel angry, to feel a sense of outrage, but to remain in that state I think will may well limit your opportunities and good intentions. Ultimately I think it’s a matter of a shift in consciousness; to create awareness which wins over the hearts and minds through thoughtful communication and factual persuasion. You can’t do that as well if you remain angry, especially if it’s evident in your communication.
All of the business things to do, like elections and resolutions and debates on policy - are of equal importance with those aspects which involve more direct action, the latter will be heavily influenced by the former and vica versa. I know you would be already aware of that from your board meetings. Some as you say like that stuff, but I think that my well be their best way they can add their own contribution to the organization. It is of equal importance to the words of your inspiring guests.
Best wishes
in answer to your question - I put a golden light around all concerned. sometimes I get caught up and indulge in negative thinking, but I try to not to stay there too long. then if there is something I can do, I do it, but I try to come from a positive place and go from there. (and yeah the serenity prayer is an absolute staple - I wear a mobius bracelet with the prayer engraved on it)
Still on vacation, huh? I'm definitely moving to Canada. All you guys do is vacation. Sounds like my kind of place!
Seriously, it does sound like you are actually trying to do good things. How can I begrudge you a vacation like that?
Even I miss you.
Seriously, it does sound like you are actually trying to do good things. How can I begrudge you a vacation like that?
Even I miss you.
My response to outrage is all over the map-- Bonding together with other for a specific cause & going after it with all energy, other time more spiritual, a summoning up of the karmic forces for good to prevail, public campaigns, networking & grassroots organizing, writing pushes to keep a topic in the public spotlight, to eating ice cream.
Sometimes a little bit of all of it.
Sometimes a little bit of all of it.
you do I deal with something that outrages me? That's how I started the blog. Then, I felt that 'just spewing my opinions' really didn't do a whole lot so I tried (and am STILL in that process) getting a non profit off the ground (helping vets with ptsd). Even though it's been taking a while, I'm going with the flow as I started meeting people recently who could really be very helpful in my endeavour. After all, there's only so much I can do alone..
Ingrid
hope you can rest up from your whirlwind 'tour'
Ingrid
hope you can rest up from your whirlwind 'tour'
Sarah - thanks and I'll be around soon - one more week of madness only!
Mary - you do a lot.
Cheri - you're one of my heros too.
Susan - I met Mr. Celil's wife in Toronto last week. He's a cause now because he's a Canadian citizen, but as so many others, no charges, no open trial, no lawyer, long sentence and it's not even known what prison he's in. The Chinese have a long effing ways to go.
Point made about the US prison rate though - highest in the world, even higher than China's...
Lindsay - you're so wise! You're right of course, about the roles people play all making a difference.
Callooh - what a nice bracelet you have.
Utah - I'm touched... and I miss you too. I'll be around soon.
Fran - yes, outrage and action... and ice cream :) And humour and love and friendship and solidarity and at Amnesty meetings... dancing, lots of dancing.
Ingrid - that's very cool. You're one of my heroes too.
Mary - you do a lot.
Cheri - you're one of my heros too.
Susan - I met Mr. Celil's wife in Toronto last week. He's a cause now because he's a Canadian citizen, but as so many others, no charges, no open trial, no lawyer, long sentence and it's not even known what prison he's in. The Chinese have a long effing ways to go.
Point made about the US prison rate though - highest in the world, even higher than China's...
Lindsay - you're so wise! You're right of course, about the roles people play all making a difference.
Callooh - what a nice bracelet you have.
Utah - I'm touched... and I miss you too. I'll be around soon.
Fran - yes, outrage and action... and ice cream :) And humour and love and friendship and solidarity and at Amnesty meetings... dancing, lots of dancing.
Ingrid - that's very cool. You're one of my heroes too.
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